Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a bracket, a fan and a cage. The bracket includes a ventilation plate. The fan is received in the bracket and secured to the ventilation plate. The cage is received in the bracket and secured to the fan. The cage defines an opening and includes a plurality of pieces rotatably received in the opening. The plurality of pieces cover the opening. The cage further includes a plurality of limiting pieces extending from an inner surface of the opening. The pressure of moving air from the fan is capable of rotating the plurality of pieces, but any over-rotation of the plurality of pieces is prevented by the plurality of limiting pieces.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and particularly to a fan assembly with a fan shutter.

2. Description of Related Art

A fan is used for cooling a piece of equipment, such as a computer or a server. A fan shutter may cover an air outlet of the fan. The fan shutter may include a plurality of pieces to cover the air outlet, and to prevent dust entering the fan and the piece of equipment through the air outlet. The plurality of pieces are rotatable when the fan is operating, and a channel may be defined between two adjacent pieces for air flowing through. However, the pieces may be easily over-rotated and collide with each other due to poor engineering. Therefore, an improved fan assembly with a fan shutter may be desired within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of a fan assembly.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, but a plurality of pieces is in another state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, show a fan assembly in accordance with an embodiment including a bracket 20, a fan 30 and a cage 40.

The bracket 20 includes a top plate 21, a bottom plate 23, two side plates 25, and a ventilation plate 27. In one embodiment, the top plate 21 is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 23 and perpendicular to the two side plates 25 and the ventilation plate 27, the two side plates 25 are substantially parallel to each other, and the two side plates 25 are substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate 27. A receiving space (not labeled), for receiving the fan 30, is bounded by the top plate 21, the bottom plate 23, the two side plates 25 and the ventilation plate 27. Each of four corners of the ventilation plate 27 defines a first mounting hole 271.

Each of four corners of the fan 30 defines a second mounting hole 31 corresponding to the first mounting hole 271. The fan 30 defines an air outlet 33.

The cage 40 includes a front wall 41, a top wall 42, a bottom wall 43, and two sidewalls 45. The top wall 42, the bottom wall 43 and the two sidewalls 45 extend from four edges of the front wall 41. In one embodiment, the top wall 42 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 43, and the top wall 42 and the two sidewalls 45 are substantially perpendicular to the front wall 41. The front wall 41 defines an opening 418. A rectangular first cutout (not labeled) is defined in each corner between the top wall 42 and each of the two sidewalls 45, so as to form an installation piece 401 and a blocking piece 403. In one embodiment, the installation piece 401 is substantially perpendicularly connected to the top wall 42 and the blocking piece 403, the blocking piece 403 is substantially parallel to the top wall 42 and perpendicularly connected to each of the two side walls 45. The opening 418 is round, and a size of the opening 418 is equal to the air outlet 33. The installation piece 401 defines a first pivoting hole 4011. A first securing piece 413 of the front wall 41 is exposed out of the first cutout and defines a first installation hole 4131. Each of the two sidewalls 45 defines a plurality of second pivoting holes 451.

A second cutout (not labeled) is defined in each corner between the bottom wall 43 and each of the two sidewalls 45, so as to form a mounting piece 405. The mounting pieces 405 are slanted, and an obtuse angle is defined between the mounting piece 405 and the bottom wall 43. A second securing piece 415 of the front wall 41 is exposed out of the second cutout and defines a second installation hole 4151. A plurality of limiting pieces 453 extends from each of the two sidewalls 45 and the mounting piece 405. Two restricting pieces 4051 extend towards each other from the mounting piece 405. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 and each of the two restricting pieces 4051 are substantially parallel to the top wall 42, and each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 is substantially perpendicular to each of the two restricting pieces 4051.

A plurality of pieces 47 can be mounted in the cage 40 by a plurality of shafts 46. Each pivot or each of the plurality of shafts 46 is rotatably engaged in opposing two of the first pivoting holes 4011 and opposing two of the plurality of second pivoting holes 451. Each of the plurality of pieces 47 is secured to each of the plurality of shafts 46. A first piece 472 (shown as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5) of the plurality of pieces 47 is located between two of the installation pieces 401. Two second pieces 470 of the plurality of pieces 47 are located between two of the mounting pieces 405. The remainder of the plurality of pieces 47 are located between the two sidewalls 45. Each of the plurality of pieces 47 includes a mounting portion 471 and a free portion 473. The mounting portion 471 is secured to the plurality of shafts 46. The plurality of pieces 47 are all substantially rectangular except the two second pieces 470, which are substantially trapezoidal. Each of the plurality of pieces 47 includes a first side surface 475 and a second side surface 476 opposite to the first side surface 475. The second side surface of the free portion 473 of one of the plurality of pieces 47 abuts the first side surface 475 of the mounting portion 471 of an adjacent one of the plurality of pieces 47. The plurality of pieces 47 cover the opening 418. In one embodiment, the plurality of pieces 47 all have the same height, but the surface areas of the one piece 47 and the two pieces 47 are smaller than that of the remainder of the plurality of pieces 47.

FIGS. 3-5 show that, in assembly, the fan 30 is received in the bracket 20, and the second mounting hole 31 is aligned with the first mounting hole 271. The cage 40 is moved towards the fan 30, until the front wall 41 abuts the fan 30. The first installation hole 4131 and the second installation hole 4151 are aligned with the second mounting hole 31. A locking member (not shown), such as a screw, is inserted into the first mounting hole 271 and the second mounting hole 31, and the fan 30 is locked in the bracket 20. The cage 40 is secured to the fan 30 by another locking member inserting through the first installation 4131 hole and the second installation hole 4151. Each of the plurality of pieces 47 is substantially parallel to the top wall 42 and the bottom wall 43. One of the two second pieces 470, adjacent to the bottom wall 43, abuts each of the two restricting pieces 4051.

In use, the fan 30 rotates to guide air to flow from the ventilation plate 27 to the plurality of pieces 47 through the air outlet 33. The plurality of pieces 47 are rotated by air pressure towards the top wall 42 and are blocked by the plurality of blocking pieces 453. An air channel 80 is defined between two adjacent pieces 47 for air flowing out of the fan assembly. In this position, each of the plurality of pieces 47 is substantially parallel to the top wall 42 and the bottom wall 43. When the fan 30 is switched off, the plurality of pieces 47 rotate back through gravity towards the bottom wall 43 to cover the channel 80. Thus, the opening 418 is again covered by the plurality of pieces 47 and the ingress of dust and other contaminants is prevented. Each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 blocks the over-rotation of the plurality of pieces 47 when the plurality of pieces 47 are rotated towards the top wall 42, and each of the two restricting pieces 4051 blocks over-rotation when the plurality of pieces 47 are rotated towards the bottom wall 43. By these means, the plurality of pieces 47 are always kept in order and cannot strike or interfere with each other.

The individual weight of the first piece 472 and the two second pieces 470 are less than the similar weight of each of the others of the plurality of pieces 47. The first piece 472 and the two second pieces 470 are capable of being rotated when a power supply, connected to the fan 30, is lower than normal. Thus, some air can flow out of the opening 418, to prevent a temperature of the fan 30 from rising dangerously.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan assembly, comprising: a bracket comprising a ventilation plate; a fan received in the bracket and secured to the ventilation plate; and a cage received in the bracket and secured to the fan, and the fan being located between the ventilation plate and the cage; the cage defining an opening and comprising a plurality of pieces rotatably received in the opening; wherein the plurality of pieces cover the opening; the cage further comprises a plurality of limiting pieces extending from an inner surface of the opening; the plurality of pieces are configured to be rotated by the fan, and the plurality of limiting pieces are configured to block the plurality of pieces when the plurality of pieces are rotated.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of limiting pieces is substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pieces is substantially parallel to the ventilation plate.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of limiting pieces are further configured to block the plurality of pieces when of the plurality of pieces are substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the cage comprises a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and two sidewalls; the two sidewalls are substantially parallel to each other, the front wall is substantially perpendicular to the top wall, the bottom wall and the two sidewalls, and the top wall is substantially parallel to the bottom wall; the plurality of limiting pieces are located on each of the two sidewalls; a plurality of shafts are rotatably mounted between the two sidewalls, and each of the plurality of pieces is secured to each of the plurality of shafts.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of pieces comprises a mounting portion, and a free portion connected to the mounting portion, and the mounting portion is secured to each of the plurality of shafts; each of the mounting portion and the free portion comprises a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface; the second side surface of the free portion of one of the plurality of pieces abuts the first side surface of the mounting portion of an adjacent one of the plurality of pieces.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the cage further comprises two installation pieces and two blocking pieces, the top wall is connected to each of the two sidewalls by each of the two installation pieces and each of the two clocking pieces; each of the two installation pieces is substantially perpendicularly connected to the top wall, and each of the two blocking pieces is substantially perpendicularly connected to each of the two sidewalls and each of the two installation pieces; a piece is rotatably mounted between the two installation pieces, the piece being configured to be rotated by the fan and being blocked by one of the plurality of the limiting pieces when rotated.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein a distance between the two installation pieces is smaller than a distance between the two sidewalls, and an area of the pieces is smaller than an area of each of the plurality of pieces.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein cage comprises two securing pieces, and each of the two securing pieces is located in a corner defined by each of the two installation pieces and each of the two blocking pieces; each of the two securing pieces defines an installation hole, and installation hole is adapted to secure the fan.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan defines an air outlet, and a size of the air outlet is equal to a size of the opening.
 11. A fan assembly, comprising: a bracket comprising a ventilation plate; a fan received in the bracket and secured to the ventilation plate; and a cage received in the bracket and secured to the fan, and the fan being located between the ventilation plate and the cage; the cage comprising a front wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall; the top wall and the bottom wall are substantially perpendicular to the front wall, and a restricting piece extends from the front wall; the cage defining an opening and further comprising a plurality of pieces rotatably received in the opening; wherein the plurality of pieces cover the opening; the cage further comprises a plurality of limiting pieces extending from an inner surface of the opening; the plurality of pieces are configured to be rotated by the fan, and the plurality of limiting pieces are configured to block the plurality of pieces when the plurality of pieces are rotated towards the top wall; and the plurality of pieces are rotatable towards the bottom wall and blocked by the restricting piece.
 12. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of limiting pieces is substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate.
 13. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of limiting pieces is substantially parallel to the restricting piece.
 14. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of limiting pieces are further configured to block the plurality of pieces when of the plurality of pieces is substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate, and the restricting is further configured to block the plurality of pieces when the plurality of pieces are substantially parallel to the ventilation plate.
 15. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the cage further comprises two sidewalls; the two sidewalls are substantially parallel to each other, and the front wall and the bottom wall are substantially perpendicular to the two sidewalls; the plurality of limiting pieces are located on each of the two sidewalls; a plurality of shafts are rotatably mounted between the two sidewalls, and each of the plurality of pieces is secured to each of the plurality of shafts.
 16. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of pieces comprises a mounting portion, and a free portion connected to the mounting portion, and the mounting portion is secured to each of the plurality of shafts; each of the mounting portion and the free portion comprises a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface; the second side surface of the free portion of one of the plurality of pieces abuts the first side surface of the mounting portion of an adjacent one of the plurality of pieces.
 17. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the cage further comprises two installation pieces and two blocking pieces, the top wall id connected to each of the two sidewalls by each of the two installation pieces and each of the two clocking pieces; each of the two installation pieces is substantially perpendicularly connected to the top wall, and each of the two blocking pieces is substantially perpendicularly connected to each of the two sidewalls and each of the two installation pieces; a pieces is rotatably mounted between the two installation pieces, the piece being configured to be rotated by the fan and being blocked by one of the plurality of the limiting pieces when rotated.
 18. The fan assembly of claim 17, wherein a distance between the two installation pieces is smaller than a distance between the two sidewalls, and an area of the pieces is smaller than an area of each of the plurality of pieces.
 19. The fan assembly of claim 17, wherein the cage comprises two securing pieces, and each of the two securing pieces is located in a corner defined by each of the two installation pieces and each of the two blocking pieces; each of the two securing pieces defines an installation hole, and the installation hole is adapted to secure the fan.
 20. The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the fan defines an air outlet, and a size of the air outlet is equal to a size of the opening. 